USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service Practice Code 442

November 2008 IRRIGATION SYSTEM, SPRINKLER

PRACTICE INTRODUCTION

USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service―Practice Code 442

IRRIGATION SYSTEM, SPRINKLER An irrigation system is a system in which all necessary equipment and facilities are installed for efficiently applying water by means of nozzles operated under pressure.

PRACTICE INFORMATION Sprinkler irrigation systems are used to achieve one or more of the following purposes:  Efficient and uniform application of irrigation water to maintain adequate soil water for plant growth and production without causing excessive water loss, erosion, or water quality impairment  Control of and/or modification of climate  Application of chemicals, nutrients, and/or wastewater  Reduction of particulate matter emissions to improve air quality Common sprinkler systems on agricultural lands include fixed solid-set, big gun, periodic move

The following pages identify the effects expected to occur when this practice is applied. These effects are subjective and somewhat dependent on variables such as climate, terrain, soil, etc. All appropriate local, State, Tribal, and Federal permits and approvals are the responsibility of the landowner and are presumed to have been obtained. Users are cautioned that these effects are estimates that may or may not apply to a specific site. and traveling sprinkler systems. Application rate and depth of application are based on the specific soils and crops. Runoff, translocation, and deep percolation are minimized. Distribution patterns, spacing, and operating pressure control the application rate. Systems used for chemigation or fertigation must meet industry-accepted wash-off and total rinse-out times.

COMMON ASSOCIATED PRACTICES Irrigation System, Sprinkler is commonly used in a Conservation Management System with practices such as:  Water Well (642)  Pumping Plant (533)  Irrigation Water Conveyance (428 series)  Irrigation Water Management (449) For further information, refer to the practice standard in the local Field Office Technical Guide and associated practice specifications and job sheets.

The diagram above identifies the effects expected to occur when this practice is applied according to NRCS practice standards and specifications. These effects are subjective and somewhat dependent on variables such as climate, terrain, soil, etc. All appropriate local, State, Tribal, and Federal permits and approvals are the responsibility of the landowners and are presumed to have been obtained. All income changes are partially dependent upon market fluctuations which are independent of the conservation practices. Users are cautioned that these effects are estimates that may or may not apply to a specific site. Initial setting: Agricultural land Irrigation System, whereInitial irrigation setting: Agriculturalis needed to land where Irrigation System, irrigation is needed to enhance plant Sprinkler Irrigation System, Sprinkler (442) enhance plant growth; new Start Sprinkler irrigation/chemigationgrowth, and the existing system to Start 10/2008 Irrigation(New System, System) Sprinkler (442) beirrigation/chemigation installed where none system is 10/2008 (Replacement of Existing System) previouslydetermined existed to be inefficient (will be replaced with a more efficient system) Note: Effects are qualified with a plus (+) or minus (-).(-). TheseThese symbolssymbols indicateindicate onlyonly anan increaseincrease (+)(+) oror 1. Pipeline with sprinkler heads a decrease (-) in the effect upon the resource, not 1. Pipeline with sprinkler heads whether the effect is beneficial or adverse. (improved efficiency) D.6 (+) Erosion potential; (+) potential for deep percolation

D.1 (+) WaterD.1 (+) Water D.3 (+) FrostD.3 (+) FrostD.4 (+) Cost of D.2 (+) WaterD.2 (+) Water D.5 (+) Agri- I.1 (-) Potential for use use efficiency protection protectionof of installation,D.4 (+) Cost of D.5 (+) Agri- Irrigation Water Management (449) delivery todelivery crop to crop chemicals deep percolation crop crop operation, andinstallation, delivery to cropchemicals maintenanceoperation, and delivery to crop Mulching (484) maintenance Irrigation Water Management (449) Residue management practices I.8 (+) Crop I.2 (-) Potential I.3 (+) Crop vigor and Irrigationfor runoff Water vigorI.9 (+) and production Pest ManagementPest Management (595) (595) Management (449) I.4 (+) productionBiomass Biomass NutrientNutrient management management (590) (590)

I.4 (-) Irrigation- I.5 (-) LEGEND induced Withdrawals I.10 (+)I.6 (+) Potential I.11 (+) LEGEND erosion, from aquifersI.5 (+) Soil Soil quality income Potential I.8 (+) Agri- sedimentation or streamsquality income chemical use Mitigating practice efficiency Mitigating practice Associated practice I.2 (+) I.1 (-) Water for Energy I.7 (+/-) Net #. Created by practice I.12 (+/-) other useI.6 (+) Water return I.9 (-) #. Created by practice Net return I.1 (+) Agri- downstream for other I.7 (-) Energy D. Direct effect chemical use uses downstream Energy use D. Direct effect efficiency uses use I. Indirect effect I. Indirect effect I.3 (-) Transport C.2 (+/-) Income and income C. Cumulative effect of pesticides, stability (individualsC.2 (+/-) Income and and C. Cumulative effect nutrients and C.1 (+) Fish and wildlife community)income stability organics to C.1 (+/-) Fishhabitat and wildlife and biodiversity (individuals and C.3 (+/-) Quality of Pathway surface watershabitat and biodiversity community) receiving waters Pathway (+) increase; (-) decrease C.3 (+) Quality of (+) increase; (-) decrease receiving waters

The diagram above identifies the effects expected to occur when this practice is applied according to NRCS practice standards and specifications. These effects are subjective and somewhat dependent on variables such as climate, terrain, soil, etc. All appropriate local, State, Tribal, and Federal permits and approvals are the responsibility of the landowners and are presumed to have been obtained. All income changes are partially dependent upon market fluctuations which are independent of the conservation practices. Users are cautioned that these effects are estimates that may or may not apply to a specific site. The diagram above identifies the effects expected to occur when this practice is applied according to NRCS practice standards and specifications. These effects are subjective and somewhat dependent on variables such as climate, terrain, soil, etc. All appropriate local, State, Tribal, and Federal permits and approvals are the responsibility of the landowners and are presumed to have been obtained. All income changes are partially dependent upon market fluctuations which are independent of the conservation practices. Users are cautioned that these effects are estimates that may or may not apply to a specific site.